Carmelo Anthony receives one-game suspension

Referee Tony Brothers (R) moves to break up New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) as they argue in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York January 7, 2013. Both were given technical fouls but remained in the game. (REUTERS)

The Sports Xchange

Carmelo Anthony’s pursuit of Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett will cost the New York Knicks star one game.

The NBA announced that Anthony was suspended for Thursday’s game in Indiana against the Pacers due to his actions following the Knicks’ Monday loss to the Celtics.

Anthony and Garnett got into an on-court tussle that resulted in a double technical foul in the intense fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 102-96 victory at Madison Square Garden. Anthony reportedly screamed as he headed toward the Boston locker room after the game, and he was later filmed standing beside the Celtics’ bus with coach Mike Woodson apparently trying to calm him down.

The next day, Anthony said he spoke with Garnett and the two patched things up, but that wasn’t enough to prevent the NBA from acting.

“There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,” NBA executive vice president basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement. “Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.”

The one-game ban will cost Anthony about $186,000 of his $20.5 million salary, SI.com reported.

According to the New York Daily News, the Anthony-Garnett incident began after Garnett made untoward remarks about Anthony’s estranged wife, TV personality LaLa Vasquez.